How Did Lee Donghae Join Super Junior?

Lee Donghae’s path to Super Junior was equal parts luck and perseverance. SM Entertainment scouted him after he aced their 2001 audition, but his training period wasn’t smooth sailing—imagine being a teen living in a dorm with 12 other trainees, all competing for a spot in an unproven large-scale group. The original concept for Super Junior was chaotic (members cycling in and out!), but Donghae’s versatility saved him. He could sing, dance decently, and had this earnest charm that made him indispensable. Early on, SM paired him with Eunhyuk for hip-hop performances, which eventually led to their D&E subunit years later. His emotional connection to music (like dedicating 'My Everything' to his late father) adds depth to SuJu’s often upbeat tracks. Now he’s the group’s resident mood-maker—goofy in vlives but deadly serious on stage.

Back in the early 2000s, SM Entertainment was really pushing the boundaries of what a K-pop group could be, and Super Junior was their experimental project—a rotating group with members coming and going. Donghae was discovered through the 2001 SM Youth Best Contest, where he won first place in singing and got scouted on the spot. What’s wild is that he was only 15 at the time! He trained for years alongside future members like Eunhyuk, and by 2005, SM finalized the lineup for Super Junior’s debut as a fixed group. Donghae’s vocal tone stood out even then—bright but emotional, perfect for their early tracks like 'Miracle.' Fun side note: he almost debuted in a duo with Eunhyuk called 'Super Junior Junior' (yes, really), but thank goodness that got scrapped.

Watching old pre-debut clips of him is hilarious because he’s visibly awkward in variety content, but you can see the raw talent. His dad’s passing right before debut hit hard—he’s talked about how performing became both an escape and a tribute. Over time, Donghae evolved into one of SuJu’s triple threats: singing, dancing, and composing. Who’d have thought the shy kid from Mokpo would end up writing bangers like 'Growing Pains' and becoming a mainstay in sub-units like Super Junior-D&E?